A friend of mine who lives in the State of California recently got divorced. She was given the house in the divorce. She went to Refi the home and found out her Ex first wife had put a lien on the house. How can that be removed?

Pay off the lien.

Was this handled through an attorney? Title search would have shown the lien. Yes, pay the lien off.

Was her divorce attorney aware of the lien and did the attorney so advise her? If not, it may be possible to seek to amend the divorce decree so as to require the ex-husband to pay back the amount necessary to pay off the lien.